Overhead sprinkler apparatus



March 31, 1959 E. JOHNSON OVERHEAD SPRINKLER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 21, 1957 IN? EN TOR.

Ed d hnson BY United States Patent C 2,879,945 OVERHEAD SPRINKLER APPARATUS Ed Johnson, Portland, 0reg., assignor of one-half to Elizabeth G. Johnson, Portland, Oreg.

v This invention relates to sprinkler apparatus and more particularly to an overhead sprinkler apparatus such as may be used to irrigate fields and gardens where it is necessary to cover large expanses of ground.

Generally, it is an object of this invention to provide sprinkler apparatus which may be set up readily, and thence operated to distribute uniformly irrigation water over a large area.

It is another object of this invention to provide sprinkler apparatus which is simple in construction and which may be produced and manufactured economically, yet which is extremely flexible and versatile, in operation and entirely satisfactory for irrigation purposes.

In general terms, this invention contemplates an overhead sprinkler system which includes a plurality of elongated retainers, parallel to one another, mounted on suitable frame structure and supported by the frame structure above the ground. Interposed between adjacent retainers and supported thereon for movement in an elevated path is an elongated carriage. The carriage includes at each of its ends a hanger which mounts the carriage on the retainers. A flexible carrier line interconnecting the hangers carries a series of drop members which support a conduit section suspended from the carrier line. The conduit section has a number of discharge orifices spaced therealong which dispense irrigation water. By employing a flexible line, the carriage may be constructed without using an extensive amount of interlaced metal bracing. The flexible nature of the line enables the carriage to expand or to contract so as to compensate for irregularities in the spacing between the retainers.

Each of the retainers has a pair of rigid guide rail members, one extending along each side of the retainer. The hanger at each end of the carriage rides on the inner guide rail of a pair of adjacent retainers. The other guide rail of each retainer is used when irrigating an adjacent strip of land, in conjunction with a guide rail of another retainer spaced laterally to one side 55 of the adjacent retainers.

The guide rails of the retainers are mounted for pivotal movement between raised and lowered positions. In moving from their lowered to their raised positions, the inner guide rails of adjacent retainers move toward each other, enabling the guide rails to give inwardly in the event that the tension in the carrier line extending between the retainers becomes excessive.

The hangers of the carriage are mounted on the guide rails by moving them longitudinally of the rails over the ends of the rails. The hangers include locking portions which prevent the hangers from being removed from the rails by lateral displacement of the hangers. Novel mechanism shields the ends of the rails when they are in their lowered position preventing the hangers from inadvertently riding off the ends of the rails.

' Other novel features, advantages, and objects are atturned over Patented Mar. 31, 1959 ice tained by the present invention, the invention being described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of overhead sprinkler apparatus constructed according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section view along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, drawn in slightly larger scale, illustrating details of the retainer and the guide rails of the retainer.

Referring now to the drawings for a more detailed description of an embodiment of this invention, the overhead sprinkler apparatus illustrated comprises a plurality of elongated retainers, indicated at 10 and 11, supported above the ground on suitable frame structure. In the embodiment illustrated, the frame structure takes the form of pipe sections 12 arranged in parallel rows with their upper ends supporting the retainers. The pipe "set:- tions are arranged vertically along the ground, and may be fixed at their lower ends either by embedding the lower ends permanently in the ground as shown in Fig. l, or else by securing them to suitable support strips. The latter method of construction has the advantage of enabling a pair of retainers to be shifted bodily from setting to setting, as desired, when irrigating different sections of land.

Each retainer is comprised of a pair of elongated rigid guide rail members, indicated at 13 and 14, mounted parallel to one another. The rail members have gen erally channel shaped cross sections, defined by upper and lower flanges 16 and 17, and web portion 18. The rail members are supported on pipe sections 12 by pivot links 21, which are secured at their outer ends as by welding to the upper flanges 16 of the rail members and pivotally connected at their inner ends to the pipe sec tions as by pivot pins 22.

The pivot links and pivot connections enable the rail members to pivot or swing about substantially horizontal axes between raised and lowered positions. In moving toward their raised positions, the inner rail members between adjacent retainers move toward each other which has the effect of reducing the tension of any line strung between the rail members.

Bars 26 affixed in position to the pipe sections supporting each end of each retainer are equipped with flange portions 27 which extend under the guide rails to limit downward movement of the rails. These flange portions function as stop means defining the lowered position for the rails. The bars extend over and close off the ends of the rails when the rails occupy their lowered positions.

Extending between the inner rails of adjacent retainers is a carriage indicated generally at 31. Carriage 31 is supported at each end on a rail by a hanger 32. Each hanger is comprised of a plate portion .33 rotatably mounting a pair of rollers 34. Rollers 34 ride in the channel defined by each rail. Plate 33 of each hanger has an elbow portion 36 which during operation rides alongside of web 18 of a rail. This prevents lateral displacement of a hanger from a rail, the elbow constituting a locking portion. A hanger is mounted on a rail by sliding it longitudinally of a rail over an end thereof. The bars which close off the ends of the rails prevent a hanger from becoming inadvertently dislodged when the rail is in a lowered position.

Extending between the pair of hangers is a carrier line each other, carriage 31 expanding or contracting so as to compensate for irregularities in the spacing between the retainers as the carriage moves down the rail members. Spaced drop cords or members 42 support a conduit section 43 carried underneath and aligned with carrier line 41.

Conduit section 43 has a closed end 46, and is connected at its other end 47, by flexible hose 48, to a fluid supply head 49a, which constitutes fluid supply means for the conduit section. Flexible hose 48 is detachably connected to supply head 49a to enable the flexible hose to be connected selectively to one of a series of heads 49 arranged along the ground beneath retainer 11. The supply heads are in fluid communication with a source conduit 50 which supplies irrigation water for the apparatus.

Spaced along conduit section 43 are a number of sprinkler heads 51. These extend vertically upwardly from the conduit section, and provide fluid discharge means or orifices for irrigation water which is distributed from the conduit section. The conduit section and the sprinkler heads comprise the water discharge mechanism for the sprinkler system.

Hangers 32 and the carriage are moved to and fro in the rails of the retainers by lines 56, 57, 58, and 59. Each is secured at one end to a hanger, and extends from the hanger around a pair of pulleys 61 and 62 to one of a pair of winches 63. Winding up the lines extending in one direction from the carriage by turning the winch associated therewith moves the carriage in one direction. Both hangers are moved simultaneously and at the same rate of speed. If desired, a fluid motor driven by the water in conduit 50 may be used to turn the winches. In the embodiment illustrated, hand winches are employed.

Pulleys 61 are mounted on bars 26 covering the ends of the rails in their lowered position. When a line is drawn past one of these pulleys, as the end of the line nears the pulley, it tends to pull the hanger and rail supporting the hanger to a lowered position, insuring that the hanger not be inadvertently displaced from the rail.

The apparatus disclosed is readily set up in a field. The carriage is easily dismantled from the retainers for storage, or when it is desired to use the carriage with a different set of rail members. To dismantle the carriage, it is only necessary to lift the rail supporting each hanger so that the ends of the rail are clear of bars 26. Each hanger may then be removed by pulling it ofi from the end of the rail.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an overhead sprinkler system, a pair of elongated rigid guide rail members, means supporting said rail members in parallel alignment above the ground, said last mentioned means accommodating pivotal movement of the rail members between raised and lowered positions about parallel substantially horizontal axes, a guide rail in moving toward its raised position moving toward the other guide rail, a flexible line hanging between and extending transversely of said rail members, a pair of hanger means, one fixed to each end of said line, each supporting an end of said line on a rail member, at least a pair of spaced drop members secured to said line, a con duit section secured to said drop members carried beneath said line and aligned therewith, fluid supply means for said conduit section, and means for moving simultaneously said pair of hanger means along said rail members.

2. In an overhead sprinkler system, a plurality of elongated retainers arranged parallel to one another, support means mounting said retainers above the ground, each of saidretainers having an elongated rigid guide rail and means mounting the guide rail for pivotal movement between raised and lowered positions, a guide rail in moving toward its raised position moving toward the guide rail of an adjacent retainer, a flexible line having a hanger secured to each. end interposed between adjacent retainers,

ing toward its raised position moving toward the guide rail of an adjacent retainer, a flexible line having a hanger secured to each end interposed between adjacent retainers, each hanger riding on a guide rail of a retainer, each hanger having a locking portion inhibiting lateral displacement of the hanger from a rail, and a conduit section with water discharge orifices supported from said flexible line.

4. In an overhead sprinkler system, a plurality of elongated retainers arranged parallel to one another, support means mounting said retainers above the ground, each of said retainers having an elongated rigid guide rail and means mounting the guide rail for pivotal movement between raised and lowered positions, a flexible line having a hanger secured to each end interposed between adjacent retainers, each hanger riding on a guide rail of a retainer, each hanger having a locking portion inhibiting lateral displacement of the hanger from a rail, each retainer having stop means defining the lowered position for the guide rail of the retainer and means closing off the ends of the guide rail preventing movement of a hanger longitudinally of the rail over an end thereof when the rail occupies its lowered position, and a conduit section with water discharge orifices supported from said flexible line.

5. An overhead sprinkler system having a carriage supporting the water discharge mechanism for the system, the carriage having at its end a hanger supporting the carriage, mechanism mounting the hanger for movement along an elevated path, said mechanism comprising a rigid guide rail, means supporting said guide rail above the ground, a pivot connection between said last mentioned means and said guide rail accommodating pivotal movement of the rail between raised and lowered positions, the ends of the guide rail being clear when the rail occupies its raised position, and means closing off the ends of. the guide rail in its lowered position preventing movement of a hanger longtudinally of the rail over an end thereof when the rail occupies its lowered position.

6. An overhead sprinkler system having a carriage supporting the water discharge mechanism for the system, the carriage having at its end a hanger supporting the carriage, mechanism mounting the hanger for movement along an elevated path, said mechanism comprising a retainer, and support means mounting said retainer above the ground, said retainer having a pair of elongated rigid guide rails, one on each side of the retainer, pivot lin'ks pivotally mounting each guide rail to said support means accommodating movement of each rail between raised and lowered positions, the ends of the guide rails being clear when the rails occupy their raised position,- and means closing off the ends of the guide rails preventing movement of a hanger longitudinally of a rail over an end thereof when the rail occupies its lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,024,374 Langebrake Dec. 17, 1935 2,040,610 Huddleston May 12, 1936 2,743,024 Schmitt et al. Apr. 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,661 Great Britain Apr. 2-3, 1913 812,123 Germany Aug. 27, 1951 

